Apparatus and method for generating a control signal for a sound generator or for generating an extended multi-channel audio signal by using a similarity analysis

An apparatus for generating an extended multi-channel audio signal, comprising:

• an input interface for acquiring a multi-channel audio signal comprising a first channel signal and a second channel signal;
• a controller for determining an adjustment value for an amplification or attenuation of a push-pull signal derivable from the first channel signal and the second channel signal,
• wherein the controller is configured to determine a first adjustment value in case of a first similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, and to determine a second adjustment value in case of a second similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, wherein the first similarity represents a lower similarity than the second similarity, and wherein the first adjustment value represents a smaller amplification than the second adjustment value or a larger attenuation than the second adjustment value;
• and
• an output interface for outputting the extended multi-channel audio signal comprising the first channel signal, the second channel signal, and metadata, wherein the metadata comprises the adjustment value, and
• wherein the controller comprises:
• a multiplier for multiplying the first channel signal and the second channel signal to acquire a first multiplication result, for multiplying the first channel signal with itself to acquire a second multiplication result, and for multiplying the second channel signal with itself to acquire a third multiplication result;
• an integrator for integrating the first multiplication result to acquire a first integration result, for integrating the second multiplication result to acquire a second integration result, and for integrating the third multiplication result to acquire a third integration result;
• a root former for forming a root from the second integration result to acquire a first root result, and for forming a root from the third integration result to acquire a second root result;
• a further multiplier to multiply the first root result with the second root result to acquire a fourth multiplication result;
• and
• a divider for dividing the first integration result by the fourth multiplication result to acquire a quantitative similarity value,
• wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjustment value from the quantitative similarity value.

A method for generating a control signal for a sound generator, comprising:

• generating a push-pull signal from a first channel signal and a second channel signal of a multi-channel audio signal;
• amplifying or attenuating the push-pull signal with an adjustable amplification or attenuation according to an adjustment value, wherein the method is configured to determine the control signal from an output signal amplified or attenuated with the adjustable amplification or attenuation;
• and
• determining the adjustment value so that a first adjustment value is determined in case of a first similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, and a second adjustment value is determined in case of a second similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, wherein the first similarity represents a lower similarity than the second similarity, and wherein the first adjustment value represents a lower amplification than the second adjustment value or a larger attenuation than the second adjustment value, wherein the determining comprises:
• multiplying the first channel signal and the second channel signal to acquire a first multiplication result, multiplying the first channel signal with itself to acquire a second multiplication result, and multiplying the second channel signal with itself to acquire a third multiplication result;
• integrating the first multiplication result to acquire a first integration result, integrating the second multiplication result to acquire a second integration result, and integrating the third multiplication result to acquire a third integration result;
• forming a root from the second integration result to acquire a first root result, and forming a root from the third integration result to acquire a second root result;
• multiplying the first root result with the second root result to acquire a fourth multiplication result;
• and
• dividing the first integration result by the fourth multiplication result to acquire a quantitative similarity value,
• wherein the adjustment value is determined from the quantitative similarity value.

A method for generating an extended multi-channel audio signal, comprising:

• acquiring a multi-channel audio signal comprising a first channel signal and a second channel signal;
• determining an adjustment value for an amplification or attenuation of a push-pull signal derivable from the first channel signal and the second channel signal,
• wherein the determining is configured so that a first adjustment value is determined in case of a first similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, and a second adjustment value is determined in case of a second similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, wherein the first similarity represents a lower similarity than the second similarity, and wherein the first adjustment value represents a smaller amplification than the second adjustment value or a larger attenuation than the second adjustment value, wherein the determining comprises:
• multiplying the first channel signal and the second channel signal to acquire a first multiplication result, multiplying the first channel signal with itself to acquire a second multiplication result, and multiplying the second channel signal with itself to acquire a third multiplication result;
• integrating the first multiplication result to acquire a first integration result, integrating the second multiplication result to acquire a second integration result, and integrating the third multiplication result to acquire a third integration result;
• forming a root from the second integration result to acquire a first root result, and forming a root from the third integration result to acquire a second root result;
• multiplying the first root result with the second root result to acquire a fourth multiplication result;
• and
• dividing the first integration result by the fourth multiplication result to acquire a quantitative similarity value, wherein the adjustment value is determined from the quantitative similarity value;
• and
• outputting the extended multi-channel audio signal comprising the first channel signal, the second channel signal, and metadata, wherein the metadata comprises the adjustment value.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for generating a control signal for a sound generator, comprising:

• generating a push-pull signal from a first channel signal and a second channel signal of a multi-channel audio signal;
• amplifying or attenuating the push-pull signal with an adjustable amplification or attenuation according to an adjustment value, wherein the method is configured to determine the control signal from an output signal amplified or attenuated with the adjustable amplification or attenuation;
• and
• determining the adjustment value so that a first adjustment value is determined in case of a first similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, and a second adjustment value is determined in case of a second similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, wherein the first similarity represents a lower similarity than the second similarity, and wherein the first adjustment value represents a lower amplification than the second adjustment value or a larger attenuation than the second adjustment value, wherein the determining comprises:
• multiplying the first channel signal and the second channel signal to acquire a first multiplication result, multiplying the first channel signal with itself to acquire a second multiplication result, and multiplying the second channel signal with itself to acquire a third multiplication result;
• integrating the first multiplication result to acquire a first integration result, integrating the second multiplication result to acquire a second integration result, and integrating the third multiplication result to acquire a third integration result;
• forming a root from the second integration result to acquire a first root result, and forming a root from the third integration result to acquire a second root result;
• multiplying the first root result with the second root result to acquire a fourth multiplication result;
• and
• dividing the first integration result by the fourth multiplication result to acquire a quantitative similarity value, wherein the adjustment value is determined from the quantitative similarity value,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for generating an extended multi-channel audio signal, comprising:

• acquiring a multi-channel audio signal comprising a first channel signal and a second channel signal;
• determining an adjustment value for an amplification or attenuation of a push-pull signal derivable from the first channel signal and the second channel signal,
• wherein the determining is configured so that a first adjustment value is determined in case of a first similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, and so that a second adjustment value is determined in case of a second similarity between the first channel signal and the second channel signal, wherein the first similarity represents a lower similarity than the second similarity, and wherein the first adjustment value represents a smaller amplification than the second adjustment value or a larger attenuation than the second adjustment value, wherein the determining comprises:
• multiplying the first channel signal and the second channel signal to acquire a first multiplication result, multiplying the first channel signal with itself to acquire a second multiplication result, and multiplying the second channel signal with itself to acquire a third multiplication result;
• integrating the first multiplication result to acquire a first integration result, integrating the second multiplication result to acquire a second integration result, and integrating the third multiplication result to acquire a third integration result;
• forming a root from the second integration result to acquire a first root result, and forming a root from the third integration result to acquire a second root result;
• multiplying the first root result with the second root result to acquire a fourth multiplication result;
• and
• dividing the first integration result by the fourth multiplication result to acquire a quantitative similarity value, wherein the adjustment value is determined from the quantitative similarity value;
• and
• outputting the extended multi-channel audio signal comprising the first channel signal, the second channel signal, and metadata, wherein the metadata comprises the adjustment value,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.